For example, Andrew Hickey of Everything Channel presented “10 Cloud Computing Best Practices”, a “how-to” guide to setting up cloud services. His presentation was rich with information and included excellent recommendations for both the enterprise and for technology vendors, but nothing about the channel. Another presentation, “Next Generation IT: Cloud Computing for the Enterprise” by Pete Koliopoulos of EMC, focused on the VCE coalition by VMware, Cisco and EMC. Koliopoulos’ presentation included a lot of useful and relevant information but again the focus was not the channel. One of his slides even mentioned a ‘select’ group of partners that are enabled to work with the joint offering these companies have developed. From a channel perspective, the questions that come to mind are: who is in this ‘select’ group and what will happen with the rest of the partners?

It shouldn’t surprise us then that the channel still perceives cloud computing as a perfect storm looming over their heads. However, this is not the first time that the channel’s role in the value chain is questioned and experience has shown that technology vendors do not have the capacity to reach the enterprise without a solid channel program.

It makes sense that we are paying more attention now to technical and business aspects of service offering for the cloud; it is part of the learning curve that all of us are going through. It is important, however, to bring the channel into the conversation now, the main challenge we face is getting partners to buy the cloud concept and get their input.

Technical issues and contract negotiations can all be resolved, but getting buy-in from partners is critical to make cloud computing a reality. We may have the technology and the moment may be right for the enterprise, but it is the channel that will determine when and how this will happen.

What are your expectations for cloud computing for the enterprise? Do you think the channel is ready to move forward?

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1 Comment

I think the channel will be the last to move. There is too must vested interest in selling hardware, software and associated sewrvices for them to welcome cloud computing with open arms.

Sadly this means that the channel players who fail to adapt to this powerful new force in the market will suffer the same fate as mini computer vendors did twenty years ago. Remember Prime, DEC, Wang, Sperry …? – no nor do many people making a living in the channel today.

The big new arena for the channel is “connecting clouds”. It is hard to do, requires robust design and technology and is hugely powerful to our customers. Many of our clients are confused and concerned about the various offerings that are available to them in the cloud. Its the new systems integration and all we have to do is embrace it.